TV Signal On Boat

[zachg18]

So I'm going on a friends boat this weekend for the Columbus Day Regatta in Miami. Basically it's just thousands of boats all tied up in shallow water having a giant party.

We have some friends coming with us that REALLY want to watch the Miami vs. Virginia Tech football game at 3:30. The boat has a TV, but the issue we are having is getting channels. We only need ABC btw, so only local channels.

Does anyone know how we could do this without having to subscribe to Directv? (The boat actually has a Directv satellite and box, just the subscriptions been cancelled for a while)

When we tailgate we get local channels with a simple rabbit ears antenna, but would that work on a boat? We'll be fairly close to land...

Thanks a lot for any help, I really appreciate it.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: TV Signal On Boat

One thing to keep in mind is that you need a ground plane for a decent signal with a dipole antenna. (rabbit ears to some extent or a single antenna, directional yagi's are somewhat immune to ground plane issues) More or less, just find some metal to mount it to. In a perfect world the metal will be a circle with the same diameter as the height of the antenna, which could be a little tricky on a boat.

 

[5150abf]

Re: TV Signal On Boat

Don't you need one of the new high def antennas, they changed the signal and you need the new antenna to pick it up but if you can get the signal on land you should be able to get it on the water unless you are miles out.

Ah college football, I know when the IRISH are on there better be a tv or radio close by.

 

[roscoe]

Re: TV Signal On Boat

Old style antennas work just fine.

The newer antennas are smaller.

The digital signal should carry 40-50 miles without issue.

$30 antenna from Walmart should work fine.

Enjoy the game.

 

[JoLin]

Re: TV Signal On Boat

Don't you need one of the new high def antennas, they changed the signal and you need the new antenna to pick it up but if you can get the signal on land you should be able to get it on the water unless you are miles out.
.

No, you don't. Antenna's the same- the TV itself must be equipped with a digital tuner or attached to a digital signal-to-analog TV tuner converter box. The big disadvantage I hear with digital TV used with an antenna, is that there's no such thing as a weak (but watchable) signal. You either have strong reception with perfect picture, or you have nuthin'. There's no in-between.

My .02

 

[ziggy]

Re: TV Signal On Boat

maybe listen to the game on the radio?
since it's gonna be a big party, maybe someone else's boat next to you will have a tv. make some new friends?
looks like others are getting ya straightened out for the antenna.

tv on a boat ... way outta my league.. hope ya enjoy the day on the water. imho, much more important (to me, like that's relevant, not) than tv....

 

[H20Rat]

Re: TV Signal On Boat

Don't you need one of the new high def antennas, they changed the signal and you need the new antenna to pick it up but if you can get the signal on land you should be able to get it on the water unless you are miles out.

Ah college football, I know when the IRISH are on there better be a tv or radio close by.

The antenna makers did a really good job of convincing people they need HD ready antennas! As others mentioned, same frequencies... The antenna itself is a chunk of metal, it doesn't care what is going through it.

 

[zachg18]

Re: TV Signal On Boat

Ok thanks a lot for the help everyone, I really appreciate it. Gonna give the bunny ears antenna a try.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: TV Signal On Boat

Ah college football, I know when the IRISH are on there better be a tv or radio close by.

Why, do you just enjoy watching the Irish getting pounded?

 

[Fireman431]

Re: TV Signal On Boat

I have a HD TV on the boat. You don't need an HD antenna (no such thing). Over air signals are broadcast in digital & HD digital. You need a HD TV to decode them. If your TV is too old, you'll need a decoder box. Newer HD TV's have the decoders built in. I receive about 40 channels from this antenna, 20 of which are still speaking English.

The antenna was about $100, but it's marine grade.

 

[5150abf]

Re: TV Signal On Boat

And when has that happened recently?

We lost 2 games by a combined 6 points, hardly a pounding, getting pounded would be what we did to Michigan State and Purdue.

Save for a few misques we would be 6-0 and in the top 5, it is coming.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: TV Signal On Boat

Either use a digital receiver box and a antenna or a generic satellite box- basic channels are free off the satellites even though the companies charged for years for their basic package it was always a free service. These are the same boxes people use to view satellite tv's complete programing without paying.

Option a is easier though.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: TV Signal On Boat

And when has that happened recently?

We lost 2 games by a combined 6 points, hardly a pounding, getting pounded would be what we did to Michigan State and Purdue.

Save for a few misques we would be 6-0 and in the top 5, it is coming.

Was referring to their past decade of play, not current season. Just messin' with ya, domer.

 

[5150abf]

Re: TV Signal On Boat

It has not been easy, I threw a party when they fired Jabba the Weis, what a joke he was.

I live about 38 minutes from campus so I get over there a couple times a year, came into tickets for the Michigan State game this year, 30 yard line 6 seats up, that was cool and I got to meet Kelly and get an autographed pic on my birthday which was really really cool .

I am in northern Indiana so I am surrounded by Buckeyes and Wolverines and Spartans so I have had some ribbing over the years.